😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,919 in Lulea versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,101 in Lulea versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,283 in Lulea versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Lulea is roughly 17% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea40% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.44SEK 120
$12.11MX$206
2.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.1SEK 954
$52.2MX$887
89.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59SEK 112
$10.90MX$185
6.33%
Cappuccino
$4.58SEK 44.07
$4.05MX$68.8
13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64SEK 25.39
$1.72MX$29.13
53.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.94
$1.38MX$23.40
42.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.32SEK 89.8
$3.47MX$58.9
168.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.80SEK 94.4
$5.81MX$98.7
68.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.01
$1.85MX$31.48
1.08%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43SEK 33.03
$3.22MX$54.7
6.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.91SEK 47.27
$2.09MX$35.42
134.93%
Eggs
$4.67SEK 44.95
$2.91MX$49.41
60.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63SEK 122
$12.49MX$212
1.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.62SEK 131
$10.11MX$172
34.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.73SEK 267
$15.89MX$270
74.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66SEK 25.59
$3.31MX$56.3
-19.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82SEK 27.20
$2.13MX$36.12
32.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50SEK 24.06
$2.19MX$37.20
14.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35SEK 41.88
$2.45MX$41.57
77.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22SEK 21.40
$2.19MX$37.18
1.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.95
$1.90MX$32.35
-18.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.44SEK 33.16
$1.62MX$27.44
112.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.37
$1.35MX$22.92
-5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17SEK 69.1
$5.43MX$92.1
32.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68SEK 122
$17.59MX$299
-27.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.14
$2.07MX$35.12
-9.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SEK 17.71
$4.75MX$80.6
-61.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42SEK 32.96
$0.34MX$5.77
905.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6SEK 555
$21.58MX$366
166.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.51SEK 91.6
$2.04MX$34.65
366.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.25SEK 21.67
$0.58MX$9.82
287.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.9SEK 693
$5.97MX$101
1104.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.98
$1.62MX$27.44
8.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KSEK 322.7K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
46.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KSEK 344.4K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
34.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173SEK 1,663
$65.2MX$1,108
164.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34SEK 312
$29.87MX$507
8.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89SEK 269
$36.55MX$621
-23.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.35SEK 475
$61.0MX$1,036
-19.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.98SEK 356
$26.70MX$453
38.50%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46SEK 130
$6.85MX$116
96.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,552
$453MX$7,700
-64.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,808SEK 55.9K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-56.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123SEK 1,182
$75.0MX$1,273
63.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18SEK 329
$55.3MX$939
-38.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,211
$114MX$1,929
10.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166SEK 1,599
$123MX$2,083
35.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,766
$1,134MX$19.3K
-28.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600SEK 5,775
$712MX$12.1K
-15.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,533SEK 14.8K
$2,571MX$43.7K
-40.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151SEK 11.1K
$1,311MX$22.3K
-12.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,240SEK 31.2K
$3,993MX$67.8K
-18.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,346SEK 22.6K
$2,095MX$35.6K
11.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,633SEK 25.4K
$1,047MX$17.8K
151.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.85
11.3
-65.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: September 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 151% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $99.0 in Lulea vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $345 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lulea vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Lulea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 151% higher in Lulea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $99.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lulea or in Mexico City?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $1,919 in Lulea, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lulea. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,646 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Lulea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.